Utility vehicle

ABSTRACT

A utility vehicle includes a main frame, a front grille, and right and left headlight assemblies each provided between the front grille and a portion of the main frame facing the front grille in an anteroposterior direction of the utility vehicle, and including a front end attached to a rear side of the front grille and a rear end attached to the portion of the main frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a utility vehicle, and in particularrelates to a headlight thereof.

2. Description of Related Art

There has been known a utility vehicle configured to travel on wildlands, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,827,357.

A head light assembly of the utility vehicle configured to travel onwild lands is more likely to vibrate in comparison to a headlightassembly equipped on a vehicle configured to travel on paved roads. Inparticular, the headlight assembly may vibrate largely depending on howthe headlight assembly is attached to a vehicle body. Such largevibration possibly breaks wiring of the headlight assembly. For example,vibration possibly disconnects between a connector of a headlamp in theheadlight assembly and a connector of a harness.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to restrain vibration of aheadlight assembly of a traveling utility vehicle.

In order to achieve the object mentioned above, according to an aspectof the present invention, there is provided a utility vehicle including:

a main frame;

a front grille; and

right and left headlight assemblies each provided between the frontgrille and a portion of the main frame facing the front grille in ananteroposterior direction of the utility vehicle, and including a frontend attached to a rear side of the front grille and a rear end attachedto the portion of the main frame.

According to the aspect, vibration of the headlight assembly isrestrained while the utility vehicle is traveling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a utility vehicle according to an aspectof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a front portion of the utilityvehicle;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a layout of headlightassemblies, a front grille, and a main frame;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a front side of a left headlightassembly;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a rear side of the left headlightassembly;

FIG. 6 is a view of a rear portion of the front grille configured toreceive the left headlight assembly;

FIG. 7 is a view of the rear portion of the front grille to which theleft headlight assembly is attached;

FIG. 8 is a top view partially showing a section of the left headlightassembly that is attached between the front grille and a front beam ofthe main frame;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the left headlight assembly;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a rear side of a headlamp;

FIG. 11 is a front view of a headlamp housing of the left headlightassembly, to which headlamp connectors and harness connectors areattached;

FIG. 12 is a front view of the headlamp housing of the left headlightassembly, from which the headlamp connectors and the harness connectorsare detached;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the headlamp connector to which aconnector holder is attached; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the headlamp connector from which theconnector holder is detached.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, a utility vehicleincludes: a main frame; a front grille; and right and left headlightassemblies each provided between the front grille and a portion of themain frame facing the front grille in an anteroposterior direction ofthe utility vehicle, and including a front end attached to a rear sideof the front grille and a rear end attached to the portion of the mainframe.

For example, each of the right and left headlight assemblies isprovided, at the rear end, with a convex portion extending in theanteroposterior direction of the utility vehicle, and the main frame hasengagement holes engaging with the convex portions of the right and leftheadlight assemblies in the anteroposterior direction of the utilityvehicle.

For example, each of the right and left headlight assemblies includes aheadlamp and a headlamp housing having an opening at a front end thereofand accommodating the headlamp, and the headlamp housing has an edge ofthe opening attached to the front grille and a rear end attached to themain frame.

For example, the headlamp is an LED lamp provided with a cooling fin.

For example, the utility vehicle further includes: a hood attached tothe main frame; and right and left fenders disposed on the right and theleft of the hood and attached to the main frame; in which the frontgrille is attached to the hood, the right fender, and the left fender tobe supported by the main frame.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detailwith reference to FIGS. 1 to 12. FIGS. 1 to 12 show a utility vehicleaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Unnecessarily detailed description may not be made where appropriate.For example, an already well known matter may not be described in detailor substantially identical configurations may not be describedrepeatedly. It is for preventing the following description from becomingunnecessarily long as well as for allowing those skilled in the art toeasily understand the description.

The inventors provide the accompanying drawings and the followingdescription in order to allow those skilled in the art to fullyunderstand the present disclosure, and do not intend to limit a subjectmatter recited in the patent claims.

Directions of “front”, “rear”, “left”, and “right” mentioned herein areviewed from a driver boarding and driving the utility vehicle.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a utility vehicle 10 includes a hood 14provided ahead of a steering wheel 12 manipulated by the driver, a leftfender 18L provided on the left of the hood 14 and covering a left frontwheel 16L, a right fender 18R provided on the right of the hood 14 andcovering a right front wheel 16R, a front grille 20 serving as a frontcover provided ahead of the hood 14 and including a grille portionlocated at the center in the vehicle width direction, and a bumper 22provided ahead of the front grille 20.

The hood 14, the left fender 18L, the right fender 18R, and the bumper22 are attached to a main frame 24 of the utility vehicle 10. The frontgrille 20 has an upper edge attached to the front end of the hood 14, aleft edge attached to the front end of the left fender 18L, and a rightedge attached to the front end of the right fender 18R.

The front grille 20 is provided, therebehind (i.e. on a rear side of thefront grille 20), or below the hood 14, with a left headlight assembly30L and a right headlight assembly 30R.

The left headlight assembly 30L and the right headlight assembly 30R areconfigured substantially identically with each other except that theyare symmetric with respect to each other. The left headlight assembly30L will thus mainly be described below.

The headlight assembly 30L is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 shows theleft headlight assembly 30L viewed from ahead of the utility vehicle 10,in other words, viewed from the position of the front grille 20. FIG. 5shows a rear side of the headlight assembly 30L.

In the embodiment, the headlight assembly 30L shown in FIGS. 4 and 5includes headlamps 32 and a headlamp housing 34 accommodating theheadlamps 32. The headlamp housing 34 accommodates the two headlamps 32aligned in a left-right direction such that the headlamp 32 close to theouter end of the vehicle body is located behind the headlamp 32 close tothe center of the vehicle body. The headlamps 32 are accommodated in andthus protected by the headlamp housing 34.

The headlamp housing 34 is made of a plastic material or the like andhas a box shape provided with an opening 34 a at the front end thereof(at the end facing the front grille 20). The opening 34 a is provided,on its edge, with three attachment tabs 34 b configured to attach theheadlight assembly 30L to a rear side of a left portion (a left portionwith respect to a center grille portion 20 a) 20 b of the front grille20.

The three attachment tabs 34 b are each provided with a through hole 34c allowing a screw 36 (see FIG. 7) to penetrate. Two of the attachmenttabs 34 b are each provided with a positioning hole 34 d configured toposition the headlight assembly 30L with respect to the front grille 20.

As shown in FIG. 6, the back side (rear side) of the left portion 20 bof the front grille 20, to which an open edge of the headlight assembly30L is attached, is provided with three female screw holes 20 d and twopositioning pins 20 e.

As shown in FIG. 7, the positioning pins 20 e of the front grille 20 areinserted correspondingly through the two positioning holes 34 d of theheadlamp housing 34, so that the headlight assembly 30L is positionedwith respect to the front grille 20. The screws 36 penetrating the threethrough holes 34 c of the headlamp housing 34 engage correspondinglywith the female screw holes 20 d of the front grille 20, so that theheadlight assembly 30L is fixed to the rear side of the front grille 20.

The front end (the opening end) of the headlight assembly 30L isattached to the front grille 20 as described above, so that the twoheadlamps 32 of the headlight assembly 30L are positionedcorrespondingly with respect to through holes 20 f provided in the leftportion 20 b of the front grille 20. The headlamps 32 are thus disposedto emit light forward through the through holes 20 f of the front grille20, i.e. in a forward travel direction of the utility vehicle 10.

As shown in FIG. 7, the left headlight assembly 30L attached to the leftportion 20 b of the front grille 20 is cantilever supported.Specifically, the front end (open edge) of the headlight assembly 30L issupported by the front grille 20. The right headlight assembly 30R issimilarly cantilever-supported by a right portion 20 c of the frontgrille 20.

Therefore, the headlight assemblies 30L and 30R possibly vibrate largelywhile the utility vehicle 10 is traveling. The headlight assemblies 30Land 30R possibly vibrate largely to be detached from the front grille 20particularly in a case where the utility vehicle 10 is traveling on wildlands. Otherwise, the headlight assembly 30L or 30R possibly has brokenwiring. Furthermore, large vibration of the headlight assemblies 30L and30R possibly damages the front grille 20. If the front grille 20 isimproved in rigidity in order to prevent these defects, the front grille20 is increased in weight. This will lead to increase in weight of theutility vehicle 10.

As shown in FIG. 8, the rear end of the headlight assembly 30L (i.e. therear end of the headlamp housing 34) is fixed to the main frame 24 inthe embodiment. The rear end of the headlight assembly 30R is similarlyfixed to the main frame 24.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a front beam 24 a as part of the mainframe 24 is provided behind the front grille 20. The front beam 24 aextends in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction) of theutility vehicle 10.

The headlight assembly 30L is disposed between the front grille 20 andthe front beam 24 a that face each other in the anteroposteriordirection of the utility vehicle 10. The rear end of the headlightassembly 30L is fixed to the front beam 24 a in this state.

In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the headlamp housing 34 of theheadlight assembly 30L has a rear surface (the surface opposite to thefront beam 24 a) 34 e that is provided with a convex portion 34 fextending in the anteroposterior direction of the utility vehicle 10. Asshown in FIG. 3, the front beam 24 a has a surface 24 b that is oppositeto the headlight assembly 30L and is provided with an engagement hole 24c opened in the anteroposterior direction of the utility vehicle 10.

The convex portion 34 f of the headlamp housing 34 engages with theengagement hole 24 c of the front beam 24 a so as to enter the frontbeam 24 a as shown in FIG. 8. The rear surface 34 e of the headlamphousing 34, i.e. the rear end of the headlight assembly 30L, is thusfixed to the front beam 24 a.

In this configuration, the rear end of the headlight assembly 30L isrestrained from vibrating in the left-right direction and in thevertical direction while the utility vehicle 10 is traveling.

Accordingly, the front end of the headlight assembly 30L is fixed to thefront grille 20 whereas the rear end thereof is fixed to the front beam24 a. Vibration of the headlight assembly 30L is restrained moreeffectively in this configuration while the utility vehicle 10 istraveling in comparison to the case where the headlight assembly 30L iscantilever supported by the front grille 20.

Use of the front beam 24 a as part of the main frame 24 requires noseparate member that is configured to restrain vibration of theheadlight assembly 30L and that will cause increase in weight of theutility vehicle 10.

The headlight assembly 30L (similarly the headlight assembly 30R) isfixed to the front beam 24 a of the main frame 24 in the embodiment, sothat the front grille 20 and the main frame 24 are provided moreintegrally with each other.

The upper edge, the left edge, and the right edge of the front grille 20are attached to the hood 14, the left fender 18L, and the right fender18R, respectively, which are attached to the main frame 24. As shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the front grille 20 is provided, at a lower portion onthe rear side, with a boss 20 g that is attached to a front grillesupport 24 e of the main frame 24. Moreover, the front grille 20 isattached to the main frame 24 via the headlight assemblies 30L and 30R.In comparison to a case where the rear ends of the headlight assemblies30L and 30R are not fixed to the front beam 24 a of the main frame 24,the front grille 20 and the main frame 24 are provided more integrallywith each other and deformation of the front grille 20 is restrainedwhile the utility vehicle 10 is traveling. This configuration restrainsvibration of the headlight assemblies 30L and 30R fixed to the frontgrille 20.

This configuration in the embodiment further facilitates attachment ofthe front grille 20. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the headlightassembly 30L (similarly the headlight assembly 30R) is initiallyattached to the front grille 20. The convex portions 34 f of theheadlight assemblies 30L and 30R are subsequently inserted to theengagement holes 24 c of the front beam 24 a of the main frame 24, sothat the front grille 20 is temporarily fixed to the main frame 24. Thistemporary fixing allows the front grille 20 to be easily fixed to thehood 14, the left fender 18L, the right fender 18R, and the front grillesupport 24 e of the main frame 24.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the headlight assembly 30L.FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a rear side of the headlamp 32.

The headlamp 32 in the embodiment is an LED lamp provided therein with alight emitting diode (LED) (not shown), and includes a headlampconnector (first connector) 32 a configured to receive driving electricpower of the LED. The headlamp connector 32 a is provided at a distalend of cable 32 c extending from a rear side (opposite to a cover 32 ballowing transmission of light emitted from the LED) of the headlamp 32.The headlamp 32 is also provided, on the rear side, with a plurality ofcooling fins 32 d configured to cool the LED. The cooling fins 32 d aremade of aluminum or the like.

Adoption of the LED lamps as the headlamps 32 achieves long servicelives of the headlight assemblies 30L and 30R. The headlamps 32 providedwith the cooling fins 32 d configured to cool the LEDs will furtherprolong the service lives of the LEDs.

The headlamps 32 provided with the cooling fins 32 d are increased inweight, so that the headlight assemblies 30L and 30R will be more likelyto vibrate. However, the vibration is restrained because the front endsof the headlight assemblies 30L and 30R are attached to the front grille20 and the rear ends thereof are fixed to the main frame 24.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the headlamp connector 32 a of each of theheadlamps 32 is detachably connected to a harness connector (secondconnector) 40 a that is provided at a first end of a harness 40configured to supply the headlamp 32 with electric power. The harness 40has a second end connected to a controller (not shown) configured tocontrol lighting of the headlamps 32.

In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the headlamp connector 32 a andthe harness connector 40 a are connected with each other in the headlamphousing 34. As shown in FIG. 9, the headlamp housing 34 is provided witha through hole 34 g allowing the harness connector 40 a to penetrate.

As shown in FIG. 8, the headlamp connector 32 a and the harnessconnector 40 a connected with each other in the headlamp housing 34 areheld by (fixed to) the headlamp housing 34.

The headlamp housing 34 holds the headlamp connector 32 a of theheadlamp 32 and the harness connector 40 a of the harness 40 connectedwith each other in order to avoid unintended disconnection therebetweenwhile the utility vehicle 10 is traveling.

Specifically, if the headlamp connector 32 a and the harness connector40 a connected with each other are not fixed, the headlamp connector 32a and the harness connector 40 a will move freely to possibly collidewith peripheral members to cause disconnection between the connectorswhile the utility vehicle 10 is traveling particularly on wild lands.

In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the headlamp connector 32 a ofthe headlamp 32 and the harness connector 40 a of the harness 40connected with each other are attached to a far surface 34 h of eachinner space of the headlamp housing 34 (i.e. a surface behind theheadlamp 32). As shown in FIG. 12, the far surfaces 34 h of the headlamphousing 34 are each provided with an engagement hole 34 j for theattachment. As shown in FIG. 13, the headlamp connector 32 a is providedwith an engagement pin 42 a rotatably engaging with the engagement hole34 j of the headlamp housing 34. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 14, theengagement pin 42 a in the embodiment is provided on a connector holder42 holding the headlamp connector 32 a (attached to the headlampconnector 32 a) of the headlamp 32. The engagement hole 34 j and theengagement pin 42 a (the connector holder 42) serve as a connectorholding portion of the headlamp housing 34 holding the headlampconnector 32 a and the harness connector 40 a.

The engagement pin 42 a of the connector holder 42 holding the headlampconnector 32 a of the headlamp 32 shown in FIG. 13 engages with each ofthe engagement holes 34 j of the headlamp housing 34 shown in FIG. 12.In other words, the engagement holes 34 j serve as holder holdingportions each holding the connector holder 42. Each of the engagementholes 34 j holds the connector holder 42, so that the headlamp connector32 a and the harness connector 40 a connected with each other are fixedto the headlamp housing 34. In this configuration, the headlampconnector 32 a and the harness connector 40 a connected with each otherdo not move freely and keep the connection while the utility vehicle 10is traveling.

The engagement pin 42 a of the connector holder 42 rotatably engageswith the engagement hole 34 j of the headlamp housing 34, so that theheadlamp connector 32 a and the harness connector 40 a connected witheach other have a plurality of different postures with respect to theheadlamp housing 34. The cable 32 c of the headlamp 32 and the harness40 are thus enhanced in layout flexibility in the headlamp housing 34.

As shown in FIG. 7, the headlamp housing 34 is provided with clamps 34 kholding the harness 40. The clamps 34 k hold the harness 40 outside theheadlamp housing 34 and limit free movement of the harness 40 while theutility vehicle 10 is traveling. This configuration restrainsdisengagement between the engagement pin 42 a of the connector holder 42and the engagement hole 34 j of the headlamp housing 34 possibly causedby free movement of the harness 40.

According to the embodiment, vibration of the headlight assemblies 30Land 30R is restrained while the utility vehicle 10 is traveling.

The headlamps of the headlight assemblies are LED lamps in theembodiment described above. However, the present invention is notlimited to this case. Halogen lamps or the like are applicable as theheadlamps.

In the above embodiment, the convex portions 34 f of the headlightassemblies 30L and 30R (the headlamp housings 34) engage with theengagement holes 24 c of the main frame 24 (the front beam 24 a), sothat the rear ends of the headlight assemblies 30L and 30R are fixed tothe main frame 24. How the rear ends of the headlight assemblies arefixed to the main frame is not limited to that of the above embodiment.Alternatively, the main frame is provided with convex portions whereasthe headlight assemblies are each provided, at the rear end, with anengagement hole engaging with the convex portion.

The embodiment described above exemplifies the technique of the presentinvention. The accompanying drawings and the detailed description areprovided herein for the exemplification. Those constituent elementsshown in the accompanying drawings and described in the detaileddescription will include constituent elements essential for achievementof the object as well as constituent elements not essential forachievement of the object but for exemplification of the technique.Accordingly, those inessential constituent elements should not beregarded as being essential simply because those inessential constituentelements are shown in the accompanying drawings or described in thedetailed description.

The above embodiment is provided for exemplification of the techniqueaccording to the present invention, and will thus accept modification,replacement, addition, removal and the like in various manners withinthe scope of the patent claims or an equivalent scope.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A utility vehicle comprising: a main frame;a front grille including through holes; and right and left headlightassemblies each provided between the front grille and a portion of themain frame facing the front grille in an anteroposterior direction ofthe utility vehicle, including a front end attached to a rear side ofthe front grille and a rear end attached to the portion of the mainframe, and including a headlamp positioned with respect to the throughhole of the front grille to emit light forward through the through hole,wherein each of the right and left headlight assemblies is provided, atthe rear end, with a convex portion extending in the anteroposteriordirection of the utility vehicle, the main frame has engagement holesengaging with the convex portions of the right and left headlightassemblies in the anteroposterior direction of the utility vehicle, andthe convex portions of the right and left headlight assemblies and theengagement holes of the main frame are configured to temporarily-fix thefront grille, which the right and left head light assemblies areattached to, on the main frame.
 2. The utility vehicle according toclaim 1, wherein each of the right and left headlight assembliesincludes a headlamp housing having an opening at its front end andaccommodating the headlamp, and the headlamp housing has an edge of theopening attached to the front grille and a rear end attached to the mainframe.
 3. The utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the headlampis an LED lamp provided with a cooling fin.
 4. The utility vehicleaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a hood attached to the mainframe; and right and left fenders disposed on the right and the left ofthe hood and attached to the main frame; wherein the front grille isattached to the hood, the right fender, and the left fender to besupported by the main frame.